THE way Kibble helps young people turn their lives around has impressed politicians who visited the education and care centre.
Paisley MSP, George Adam; West Scotland regional MSP, Mary Fee; and MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, Jim Sheridan visited the care centre in Paisley at various times recently to see first hand the work with young people that goes on there.
Begins a spokesperson: “Kibble is recognised as the largest multi-service centre in the UK and Scotland’s specialist centre for young people at risk. It provides community outreach, residential care, secondary education, intensive fostering, secure care and employment training for care leavers delivered through a portfolio of social enterprises.
“It employs more than 400 staff and boys from all over Scotland are referred to Kibble by the courts, the Children’s Hearing system and local authorities.”
The spokeserson adds: “KibbleWorks [correct)] is the social enterprise and job training wing of the organisation and its businesses provide work experience to young people including construction, warehousing; joinery; metal fabrication; promotional products; gardening, catering, car mechanics and recycling.”
George Adam said: “It was great to visit the Kibble and meet with a number of the highly dedicated staff.
“I was impressed with the service that they provide and value their role in providing youngsters with a chance to make a decent life.
“It’s not good enough to say that troubled youngsters are beyond rehabilitation and the Kibble has shown that Paisley is leading the way in offering them a vital lifeline.”
Jim Sheridan added: “I was amazed by the size of Kibble and I can see the excellent work going on there by the staff and the young people themselves.
“If we didn’t have a place like Kibble we would have to invent it.
“The staff here are doing a great job in extremely difficult circumstances and I hope they continue this work with the help of other agencies.
‘There’s a big investment in employment training at Kibble and I’ve been impressed by the opportunities young people are getting to help them into work.”
Kibble’s chief executive, Graham Bell, said: “It’s heartening to get such a positive reaction from the politicians who visited us.
“Many people are surprised at the scale of our operation and the many different methods we have developed to look after and prepare young people for their adult lives.”
Ends
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